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Spring is nearly upon us! The birds are singing, the bees are buzzing, the trees are turning green…and also brown? Even this early in the season, we’re starting to see Leaf Spot Disease pop up across the Oconee and Athens areas. What is Leaf Spot Disease?Leaf Spot Disease is actually an umbrella term used for a variety of fungal and bacterial infections. They are often referred to collectively as they show similar visible signs, and cause similar damage. With so many variants of Leaf Spot Disease out there, pretty much everything with leafy green leaves (or even non-green leaves) is at risk. As the name suggests, these infections manifest as little spots all over the affected leaves. Spots may be red, reddish-brown, brown, black, gray, or even orange in color, but they all mean the same thing: the plant is sick. What does Leaf Spot Disease do?Though they might look harmless, the more Leaf Spots there are on any given leaf, the less surface area that leaf has to perform photosynthesis (the process by which leaves convert sunlight into energy). Too many spots, and the leaf will die. And if enough leaves are impacted and unable to photosynthesize, the tree itself may suffer from lack of nutrients. What causes Leaf Spot Disease?There are a few different factors to consider when trying to prevent Leaf Spot Disease, but the biggest one is controlling the spread! Diseased leaves that die and fall to the ground can still infect other plants in the area long after the leaves themselves appear to have withered. Overcrowded plants may also pass the disease along by contact. Leaf Spot Disease spreads best in damp conditions, where leaves are wet for extended periods of time. Sprinkler systems and watering trees and shrubs by pouring over the top of the plant are both common culprits. How do I know if my tree or shrub has Leaf Spot Disease?Pardon the pun, but to spot Leaf Spot Disease, all you have to do is look for spots! Depending on the severity of the condition, some leaves may also begin to brown and wither along the edges. What should I do if I ‘spot’ Leaf Spot Disease?Since this disease spreads so easily and is so common, you are unfortunately very likely to find some of your trees, shrubs, and other leafy plants infected. Luckily, severe cases are rare. In fact, you really only need to worry if your tree loses 50% or more of its leaves in one season, or has repeated leaf loss 2 or more years in a row. The consecutive reduction in photosynthesis can impact the plant’s long-term growth and make it more susceptible to other more harmful diseases and pests. How can I manage and prevent Leaf Spot Disease?The best thing you can do to prevent Leaf Spot Disease is to keep your trees happy, healthy, and stress-free! To do this, you’ll want to ensure they have plenty of room to grow, both above and underground. Annual pruning to clear away dead or dying limbs and thin out the canopy can help keep branches from competing for nutrients, leading to a healthier tree overall. Keep an eye on the weather, and water your trees during growing season if they go a week or more without rain. If your trees do end up sick, there are a few steps you can take to manage their condition. Raking away fallen infected leaves before they have the chance to pass on their affliction can help stop the spread. You can also reduce the disease’s preferred damp environment, by watering your trees, shrubs, and other plants near the base, so the leaves themselves don’t get wet. When bringing new plants in, be sure to consider their full-grown size when you decide where to put them. Overcrowding can cause lots of problems on top of spreading Leaf Spot Disease! Depending on how close together your existing plants are, you may even want to consider thinning them out. What happens if I have a severe case of Leaf Spot Disease?If your tree has lost 50% or more of its leaves, or is showing other signs of decline in addition to Leaf Spot Disease, then it’s time to consult your friendly neighborhood Certified Arborist! He or she will be able to assess the state of the tree and determine the best course of action to either save it, or, if necessary, remove it safely. Concerned about one of your trees? Call us today to schedule your free estimate! AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio.
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Whether you’re looking to spruce up your home’s curb appeal, need some shade for the kids in the backyard, or just want to fill up some empty space, planting trees is a great choice for any homeowner. But how do you make sure that the tree you plant actually survives into adulthood? Let’s walk through some tips that will help you grow a strong, healthy tree you can enjoy for years to come. Pick a TreeThe first thing you need to do when deciding to plant a tree is to figure out what you want to plant! To do that, you need to think about why you are planting a tree at all. If you’re looking to make your front yard more visually appealing, you’re probably in the market for a smaller, ornamental tree. Check out our article on the best trees to plant for decoration in Georgia if you need some ideas. On the other hand, if you’re hoping for some shade, then you definitely want a larger tree – but you also want one that grows pretty fast, so you’re actually around to enjoy it! Maybe you’re hoping to successfully grow fruit trees to enjoy the, er, fruits of your labor. Or maybe you want a privacy fence to create some distance between you and the neighbors. Whatever purpose you have in mind for your new tree, knowing ahead of time will help you decide what species to plant. Pick a SpotWhile you’re thinking about the type of tree you want, you should also start thinking about where you want to put it. For example, maybe you’re looking to add a flowering tree to the small garden bed by your front porch. You may consider the dogwood, but these babies can still get pretty tall and wide, and their root system definitely needs some space to spread out, meaning that small garden bed might actually be too small, and your tree won’t be able to flourish. On the other hand, if you have a wide-open space with no other plants in sight, then you’ll need to keep in mind that whatever you plant there is going to be exposed to the elements with no protection whatsoever. That means you need something with a strong root system and a hardiness to winds, rains, and sunshine – like the water oak! While you’re thinking about where you want to plant, remember to account for the roots. One of the biggest reasons trees fail is because their roots don’t have enough room to spread out, so the tree can’t get enough nutrients to survive. You also want to watch out for the roots, because they can do some serious damage to anything nearby, like your driveway or even your home’s foundation! Pick a TimeThe last thing you want when you plant a new tree is for the first freeze of the winter season to kill it off, so be sure to think about what time of year it is when you start looking to plant. A good rule of thumb for planting new trees is at the tail-end of winter, right before the weather really starts to warm up for spring. In the Athens area, that usually means around March, or right now! Get PlantingOnce you’ve got the what, when, and where figured out, it’s time to actually plant your new tree. The basics? Dig a hole, put the new tree in it, and cover the tree with dirt. But there are a lot of factors to consider during these steps: Dig Wide The hole should be 2 to 3 times wider than the root ball itself. You’ll fill this empty space back up with looser soil when you cover the root ball, and this will make it easier for fledgling roots to spread out and get established. Dig Deep – but not too deep! When you cover the root ball back up, you want the trunk flare to just barely be visible above the dirt. The trunk flare is the point where the trunk flares out at the very base of the tree. This flare can be subtle, but that is the point that you want the soil to reach. Make sure when you’re digging that your hole is deep enough that the trunk flare will sit just above the ground. Unwrap and Unbind Some trees come with netting or even wire cages around the root ball. This is done to keep the roots together and protected during transport, but when you’re ready to plant, these obstructions need to be removed. Otherwise, they may hinder root growth and cause your tree to fail. Straighten Up This is more of an aesthetics thing, but try to plant your tree as straight up and down as possible. If your tree is planted crooked, there’s a good chance it will grow crooked, too – at least at first. The base of the tree might go off at an angle before growing straight up, giving your trunk a curve to it for the rest of its life. Cover Up Once you’ve ensured that your tree is in a hole of proper width and depth, and the tree is standing up straight, it’s time to cover the roots with soil. The end goal here is to have packed but not compacted soil – so pack it down as you go, and water every few layers to help reduce air bubbles, but don’t try to compact the soil as hard as you can. You want it loose enough for the tree’s roots to be able to navigate easily, but not so loose that the roots don’t have anything to hold onto as they grow. Stake Out Once the soil is in place, it’s time to decide whether your new tree needs stakes. Generally, you want to avoid stakes if possible; studies have shown that trunks and root systems establish quicker and stronger on their own. But if your tree is in a windy, exposed area, staking might be your only choice. After Care Once your tree is planted (and staked, if need be), it’s time to think short- and long-term care. One of the best things you can do for a new tree is to mulch the ground around it. Think 2 to 3 inches, with a thinner layer at the base of the trunk. This will help the ground around the tree retain much-needed moisture without creating an environment for trunk rot. From there, you’ll want to water your tree about once a week. If it rains, you can consider that the week’s watering. If you end up in a long, hot dry spell, then you may want to up that to two waterings a week. So there you have it! All the basics you need to successfully plant a new tree. If you still aren’t sure, and want more advice on what or where to plant, feel free to give us a call! Our Certified Arborist, Scott, is always happy to offer his professional opinion. If you’ve planted a new tree and you’re concerned about its health, consider scheduling a free estimate with us! We’ll come out to make sure everything’s okay, and offer some solutions if they aren’t. AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio. |
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January 2023
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23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24
24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24